Concept
Habit
Overview
routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Habit is discussed.
Habit is thus a second nature, or rather, as the Duke of Wellington said, it is 'ten times nature,'--at any rate as regards its importance in adult life; for the acquired habits of our training have by that time inhibited or strangled most of the natural impulsive tendencies which were originally there. Ninety-nine hundredths or, possibly, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of our activity is purely automatic…
William James, Talks To Teachers On Psychology
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; author linked in the graph; opens on it
It thus appears that habit covers a very large part of life, and that one engaged in studying the objective manifestations of mind is bound at the very outset to define clearly just what its limits are. The moment one tries to define what habit is, one is led to the fundamental properties of matter. The laws of Nature are nothing but the immutable habits which the different elementary sorts of matter follow in their…
William James, The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; author linked in the graph; opens on it
This usage is much less in accord with popular usage than is the wider way in which we have used the word. It assumes from the start the identity of habit with routine. Repetition is in no sense the essence of habit. Tendency to repeat acts is an incident of many habits but not of all.
John Dewey, Human Nature and Conduct
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
A habit is to him something which has a hold on him, something not easily thrown off even though judgment condemn it.
John Dewey, Democracy and Education
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
I may observe, without attempting definition, that an inherited habit or trick (trick because may be born) fulfils closely what we mean by instinct. A habit is often performed unconsciously, the strangest habits become associated, d^o. tricks, going in certain spots &c. &c., even against will, is excited by external agencies, and looks not to the end,--a person playing a pianoforte. If such a habit were transmitted…
Charles Darwin, The Foundations of the Origin of Species Two Essays written in 1842 and 1844
names the idea; states what it is
Philosophers who discussed Habit
Related ideas
- Maurice Merleau-Ponty
- Psychology
- Experience
- Behavior
- The Principles of Psychology
- Phenomenology (philosophy)
- William James
Place in the tradition
Part of Philosophy of education.